Alleged car burglar caught in the act

Published
8:00 pm EDT, Thursday, May 29, 2008

NORWALK

By AMANDA NORRIS

Hour staff Writer

Catching three suspects wanted for breaking into cars was made easier this week by witnesses who had accurate descriptions on hand for police, and in the case of one alleged burglar, the actual suspect.

On Monday, William Denzel exercised his right to make a citizen's arrest when he saw someone trying to break into his sister's car, police reported. He held the man by the arm until police arrived.

Denzel was at his sister's house for a Memorial Day gathering when he saw Jose Fuentes, 43, of 18 1/2 Monroe St., tampering with her car. A GPS system and a purse were visible inside the car, police spokesman Lt. Paul Resnick said.

According to Denzel's statement, Fuentes had a chisel in his hand and was trying to pry open the door with it. When he saw Denzel approaching, Fuentes threw the chisel under the car and tried to run. Denzel grabbed him by the arm and held him while his sister called police.

Police arrested Fuentes at around 5 p.m. and apparently did not resist Denzel while police were on their way, Resnick said.

Fuentes was charged with criminal mischief, criminal attempt to commit burglary and possession of burglar's tools. He was arraigned Tuesday, and his bond was set at $5,000. His next court date is June 26.

Courthouse records list Fuentes as having multiple convictions, mostly from California, including carjacking with the use of a weapon, sale of marijuana, burglaries, attempted burglaries and vandalism.

On Wednesday, a woman told police the man who had just stolen her boyfriend's go-ped scooter from a parked car drove away in an Acura with the vanity plate "Y TRY."

Police arrested the driver of the Acura on East Ave. at around 2:15 p.m. Neil McCartney, 31, of 2 Peter Ave., and his passenger Steve Mendoza, 18, of 2758 Bainbridge Ave., the Bronx, N.Y., were charged with third-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny and conspiracy.

According to Resnick, McCartney could not get his money back for a car engine he purchased from the victim, so he apparently retaliated by breaking into the car and taking the go-ped scooter.

The victim's girlfriend was at his Park Street home when McCartney and Mendoza came to confront him. She recognized McCartney from his prior dealings with her boyfriend. When she wouldn't let them into the house and told McCartney to leave over the phone, McCartney said the victim "would have a problem."

She witnessed him take the scooter, which is valued at about $250, from the car and drive off. She then called police, who used the vanity plate and her description of the suspects to find the Acura. She identified the two men when they were stopped with the go-ped scooter still in the car.